InquisitiveScouter

Current day Summer Camps??

Must be "officially licensed" tattoos...LOL

How about tattooing them? https://www.boyscouttrail.com/blog/1358.asp Uh....no.

I think this misconception is part of the reason so many people are reluctant to be MBCs. The training slides from national have in the notes "In order to qualify as a merit badge counselor, prospective volunteers must have the education and skills needed to provide instruction and to evaluate performance. It is also important they are older than the Scouts and are able to set that positive example. This calls for both good rapport and good character. These are the only qualifications the BSA National Council places on merit badge counselors—regardless of the merit badge. Local councils, however, when approving counselors, may look for more, but they are not allowed to accept less." Link https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/advancement/merit_badge_counselor/the_essentials.pptx And from G2A 7.0.1.4: "Council advancement committees have the responsibility to implement an approval procedure that assures merit badge counselors have the necessary skills and education to offer quality experiences in the badges they counsel. The intent is for Scouts to learn from those with an appropriate level of expertise." Key concepts here are "offer a quality experience" and "appropriate level of expertise" Although these phrases are vague, IMO, some use them to set the bar far too high for MBCs. For example, I am a counselor for Scuba Diving (I do hold an Advanced Open Water Diver cert.) , but I am not a Scuba Instructor. Now, BSA mandates "All phases of scuba instruction— classroom, pool, and open-water training—are limited to instructors trained and certified by one of the BSA’s recognized scuba agencies as found in the Guide to Safe Scouting." The distinction here is between Scuba Instruction and Scuba Merit Badge Counseling. These are two different things. (I had to have this discussion with our council person who approves MBCs.) If a Scout wants to earn Scuba MB, I connect them with a certified local dive shop to earn their certification, which is but one requirement of the MB. If they have their certification already, we go through the rest of the requirements and I sign off the badge. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Scuba_Diving.pdf?_gl=1*17mfszf*_ga*MTI0MDc0MzQ4LjE2MzQ3Mjk1NDM.*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTY0MTY1MTkzNi4zNy4xLjE2NDE2NTMzNzUuNjA.&_ga=2.110476621.995562393.1641576145-124074348.1634729543

Lol, thanks! No, just a jack of all trades, master of none. And lots of different experiences in life, Scouting, and the military. Here are an average 23 that most Scouters could (or should be able to) do without specialized training or being a professional in some field: (NOTE to Scouters...if you cannot go through the requirements for any of these and be able to counsel a Scout, please consider "earning" these merit badges on your own. Yes, you could take at least one merit badge class at Summer Camp or elsewhere! You'll learn a LOT and have some fun, too. They'll make you a better Scouter.) 1. American Heritage 2. Art 3. Automotive Maintenance 4. Backpacking 5. Camping 6. Citizenship in the Community 7. Citizenship in the Nation 8. Citizenship in the World 9. Citizenship in Society 10. Communication 11. Cooking 12. Emergency Preparedness 13. Family Life 14. First Aid 15. Hiking 16. Home Repairs 17. Nature 18. Personal Fitness 19. Personal Management 20. Pets 21. Reading 22. Scholarship 23. Scouting Heritage

This was me as a youth... Scouting was my haven. I am deeply grateful for it and all those who helped me survive, youth and adult.

Here, I got the third degree when I submitted my application locally to counsel 60 merit badges. So, I submitted a spreadsheet listing qualifications and experience, including copies of my pertinent certifications. (About 15 pages worth of documentation, just to make the point.) All were approved 😜 And I am about to add another! (and maybe later the Cit in Society.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2OcbeGqbpU&ab_channel=Fledermaus1990 The average person could do at least 10 or so, comfortably.

The "proof" required totally depends on your local council or district, depending on who is approving MBC applications. There is good discussion and guidance in the Guide to Advancement 2021, starting on page 40 (Section 7) This is a good read, and recommend you take some time to digest it. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

And the second photo of Bill Gates with Jeffrey Epstein was definitely faked...you were right to remove the post. But there are other real photos of the two together, just saying 😜

I care. There is no punishment I can think of that would fit the criminals who hurt you. And, BSA engaged in, and continues to engage in, despicable practices in dealing with this. There is no final healing for those of us who bear the psychological scars of abuse. We carry them always. I'm reminded of mine often, and you endured far worse than I, and live with yours daily, as well. I offer you my tearful empathy, and an admonition that we survivors can help prevent this from happening to others.

No one said anything of the sort... You read too much into what people write. Take their words at face value. If you think they are implying something, or being vague, ask a direct question to get a direct answer. Your method is combative and attributes words and ideas to people that they simply did not state. It does not win friends, nor influence people 😜

Also, here is a former- Southern Region Area 2 map with all the Summer Camps around you. Zoom in to see the triangles nearest you. Then shop around for a camp to take the whole family to for a Provisional Week. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/designdevelop/maps/SR-Area-2-March2019.pdf

Wow, just looked through Camp Alexanders Guide for last year....no leader discounts... Compare to Ten Mile River in New York...see page 14 of the pdf...(numbered page 6 in the footer)...we took 32 Scouts to camp last year...all 7 adults were free. (Additional adults $230 for the week) https://tenmileriver.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/04/2021-TMR-Complete-Leaders-Guide.pdf

Those prices sound fairly standard... Some suggestions: 1. Check that camp's Adult Leaders Guide. There is often a free adult per xx Scouts provision. If they have that, lobby hard with the Troop to use that to reduce your expenses. If they push back, then, 2. Go to camp locally with your kids as part of a Provisional Troop (is that the Maverick program you were talking about??), with you "volunteering" as the Provisional Troop Leadership. If both you and your spouse go the same week, then the camp can offer that week for girls provisional, so it's an advantage for the camp. Camps should give the Provisional Adults the week for free. If they don't, I'd talk with the Camp Director and see what they can do. If there is a sibling discount locally, that'd be even better. I know you'd rather be with your Troop, but finances may drive you to this... 3. Consider a family Scout camp. You and your family find your own place to camp, and you and your spouse act as merit badge counselors. You are a patrol of four. Have your kids make the menus, and do the cooking, and both could earn most of Cooking Merit Badge in the week. Not even near the ideal, but they'll get a whole lot out of it. And you will learn a ton!!

Doesn't say Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine, for those who follow letter of the law 😜

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SqC_m3yUDU

Any number of ways...with an established form of ID... driver's license, passport, or other state or federal issued ID. No established ID? OK, now it's time for fingerprints...

There you go trying to inject common sense and practicality into things again! Will you never learn? Maddening isn't it??

Sounds like things are on a good track... except for one thing... The Committee and adults should not have put you in the position of having to figure out what to do with the girl troop/patrol. They are supposed to be entirely separate, and choose and run their own program. But, as you have found, the reality can be quite different.

Fingerprints can change due to physical injury (burns) or intentional disfigurement, as well. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/US/crooks-erase-past-erasing-fingerprints/story?id=11236512

Yes, you will see more biometrics use in the future, I'm sure of it.

Ahhh...because they are checking for that fingerprint being matched to criminal records for other names, aliases, false identities, etc.

In PA, it isn't just the fingerprints...they must fingerprint you and run those through the FBI database. Costs about $25, and must be done every five years, until you reach 10 years of PA residency. At that point, you may file an Affidavit stating such, and that you have not committed certain offenses (these offenses would appear on your PA State Police Criminal Check, which is also required.) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Resources/Documents/Disclosure Statement for Volunteers.pdf

Welcome! Here's a plan for your next meeting: Opening - Scout Oath and Law -SPL Patrol Meetings - Run by PLs, their choice on activities (have ASPL, SM and ASMs assist and instruct if needed) Game - SPL Scoutmasters Minute Closing - Scoutmaster's Benediction- delegate this to your ASPL So, really, all you have to do is open and find a good game to play. https://troopresources.scouting.org/patrol-activities/ Have fun and learn!

Sounds like similar growing pains we went through in Pennsylvania.